Veteran lays wreath in the sun

Veteran lays wreath in the sun

15 November 2017

ONE of Northern Ireland’s oldest war veterans laid one of the 20 wreaths during last Sunday afternoon’s annual Remembrance Service in Killyleagh.

Ninety six year-old Martin Charters, who flew nearly 40 missions during the Second World War, many of them as a rear gunner in Lancaster bombers, laid a wreath on behalf of Bomber Command during the poignant service graced with bright winter sunshine.

The Killyleagh man joined the RAF in 1941 and during his remarkable service throughout the war he worked as a mechanic on Spitfires and later as a rear gunner in a Halifax, seeing nearly 40 missions over Europe. He also trained rear gunners for Lancaster bombers.

There was a sombre atmosphere during Killyleagh’s annual act of remembrance which was followed by a service at First Killyleagh Presbyterian Church conducted by the Rev Hiram Higgins.

The short religious service at the top of High Street in front of Killyleagh Castle was conducted by the Rev Colin Darling, from St John’s Parish Church who was joined by Fr Brendan Smyth, from St Mary’s Church in Killyleagh.

Parade participants gathered at the harbour area for the traditional march to the town’s cenotaph at Killyleagh Castle, with participants led by Wellington Memorial Silver Band.

The procession from the harbour was led by parade commander Michael Logan and immediately behind the band were standard bearers from the Royal British Legion’s Killyleagh and Killinchy branch, the UDR Regimental Association and representatives from other organisations including the Army Cadets and youth organisations based in the town. The Royal British Legion standard bearer was Mr David Hanna.

The young and the old stood shoulder to shoulder to remember the fallen with the top of High Street coming to a respectful standstill for the Act of Remembrance and short religious ceremony to remember the dead of two world wars and other conflicts.

Senior officials form the local Royal British Legion branch took part in the short ceremony with Binyon’s Lines — in memory of the brave men and women who died in the great wars — recited by the organisation’s chairman, Billy Croskery. The following two minutes’ silence was also impeccably observed.

Mr Croskery also recited the Kohima Epitaph — “When you go home tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today.”

The Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Co Down, Mr Gawn Hamilton, who joined clergy in the shadow of the castle for the religious ceremony, laid a wreath and was escorted to the cenotaph by two representatives from the Army Cadets.

Other wreaths were laid by the following:

Killyleagh and Killinchy Royal British Legion — Billy Croskery escorted by Jimmy Heaney.

Kings’ Own Scottish Borderers — Bob Pirie escorted by Billy Croskery.

UDR Regimental Association — Barry Traynor escorted by Jack Halliday.

PSNI — Constable Peter Gilmore.

Bomber Command - Martin Charters, escorted by Janet Redmonds and Malcolm Leahy.

Killyleagh Girls’ Brigade — Bea Adair, escorted by Leah Cash and Marissa Mills.

Killyleagh Boys’ Brigade — Captain Chris McClintock escorted by Lucas Moucka and Jack McClintock.

Burma Star Association — Terry Andrews escorted by Gawn Hamilton.

Army Cadets — Major Colin Campbell escorted by Captain Mark McCall.

Newry, Mourne and Down Council — Councillor Terry Andrews escorted by Councillor Billy Walker.

Royal Navy — George Fitzpatrick junior escorted by George Fitzpatrick senior and Ben Johnston.

Toye LOL No 77 — Cuan Sullivan escorted by Brian Osborne and Stephen Cheevers.

Killyleagh Apprentice Boys — Malcolm Healy escorted by Nigel Heaney and Johnny Wilkinson.

Killyleagh Integrated Primary School — Ben McAllister escorted by Courtney Martin.

William Savage Memorial Flute Band — Molly Sullivan and Jayden McCallister escorted by Malcolm Leahy and Cuan Sullivan.

Mrs Janet Redmonds laid a wreath on behalf of her brother James Hughes who was killed during the Falklands War. She was escorted by Elinor Moore.

Mrs Suzie Carberry laid a wreath in memory of her uncles William and Robert Walker, while Mr Austin Cheevers laid a wreath in memory of a number of relatives including Frank Cheevers, Alexander Fee, David Watson, Robert Fee, John Cheevers, William McKelvey and Richard Cheevers.

And Martin Kewall, accompanied by his son Daniel laid a wreath on behalf of 2 Rifles.